Foreign National Visitors

Foreign National Visitor Documentation

When you are expecting a foreign visitor (colleagues, students, etc.) at your department, office, lab, etc., as general guidance, it is important to take into consideration what country they originate from, where they will be going while at Vanderbilt, what research they will have access to, and what type of technology or information they will have access to during their visit.

For example,

Is the research or any of the associated technology, lab equipment, etc. export controlled?

Is the research or any of the associated technology proprietary in nature?

Keep a copy of the completed documents for five years past the last date of the visit.

Best Practices

A best practice would be to advise, in advance, all areas and individuals affected by this visitor to ensure information, items, area, etc. are secured appropriately. Some situations may require a license from the federal government before a visitor may see a lab, research results, etc.

Run a denied party list screen on visiting individuals and organizations using ListVUe. Please keep the search results for five years from the last date of activity regarding the visit. For assistance using ListVUe, please email ocra@vanderbilt.edu.

In preparation for a foreign national's visit to Vanderbilt, contact the International Services & International Tax (VISIT) for immigration assistance. VISIT will provide a questionnaire for the visitor to complete and, after completion, will provide a formal Letter of Invitation with the appropriate immigration language to aid a foreign national in obtaining a visa and admission into the USA. Please allow sufficient time for processing. Click here to view the questionnaire or you may conntact VISIT at 615-343-7467 or via email at visit@vanderbilt.edu.

Since March 1, 2014, BIS has placed a hold on the issuance of licenses that would authorize the export or reexport of items to Russia. BIS will continue this practice until further notice.

Since March 27, 2014, the Department of State has placed a hold on the issuance of licenses that would authorize the export of defense articles and defense services to Russia. State will continue this practice until further notice.